By Joan C. McKinney, director, Office of University Communications
A birthday and three anniversaries are among the many events being celebrated at this year's Homecoming Oct. 28 with the theme of “Honoring the Past, Preparing for the Future.”
Campbellsville University will take part in celebrating the City of Campbellsville's 200th birthday with an archival display of the history of Campbellsville University and Campbellsville. The display will be in the Student Activity Center from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Oct. 28.
This year is the 30th anniversary of Fighting Tiger Football. Football was reinstated in 1987 after being dormant for 50 years. The late Coach Ron Finley will be honored when the Tigers, under head coach Perry Thomas, take on Georgetown College at 2:01 p.m. Finley Standard Time Oct. 28.
Another anniversary being celebrated is the 25th Anniversary of the Car Cruise. Stan McKinney, associate professor of journalism, has chaired the event since its inception. Seventy-five participants will receive a souvenir plus a City of Campbellsville Bicentennial patch.
The Chowning Art Shop has been open five years, and it will be open Friday, Oct. 27 from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. with a reception at the Turner Log Cabin beside the shop. It will also be open from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Oct. 28.
A special pop-up exhibition of art work from the Art & Design Department will be on display at the Susan Kirkland Tesseneer Art Studio at from 10 a.m. until noon Oct. 28. This is work as the art students “prepare for the future.”
More art will be exhibited at The Pence Chowning Art Gallery when various alumni artists will come together for the first Homecoming group exhibition to “honor the past.” This exhibit is from 10 a.m. until noon.
Campbellsville University's three living presidents Dr. W.R. Davenport, president from 1969 until 1988; Dr. Kenneth W. Winters, president from 1988 until 1996, and current president Dr. Michael V. Carter, who has served since 1999, along with their wives Janet, Shirley and Debbie, respectively, will be the grand marshals of the parade that will begin at 11 a.m. Oct. 28.
A first-time event, the Maroon and Gray Give Day, will be from 12 a.m. Oct 28 and end at 1:59 p.m. when alumni, family, friends, students, etc. will be asked to donate money toward the Scholarship Fund.
Darryl Peavler, director of alumni relations, has set a goal of 1,100 donations. The amount doesn't matter; the goal is to have that number of people donate. Ways to donate are listed in a story in this section.
Another event taking place for the first time this year is the 1st Annual Alum Mile. Runners and walkers can walk or run the Campbellsville mile. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Ronnie and Laura Hord Athletic Indoor Facility. The race begins at 8:30 p.m. with refreshments and awards following. There is no charge; donations will be taken.
Dr. John Mark Carter, faculty emeritus at Campbellsville University, will be signing his new book “The Parsons' Sons” from 10:30 a.m. until noon at the Barnes & Noble College Bookstore. The book is $15.
The Class of 1967 will be inducted into the Golden Heritage Club, members who graduated 50 years and earlier, at 2 p.m. in The Gheens Recital Hall. A luncheon will honor them at 11 a.m. in the Banquet Hall. All Golden Heritage Club members are invited to attend the luncheon. The Class of 1957 will also have a reunion dinner at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in the Chowning Executive Dining Room.
The Homecoming Reception, to which everyone is invited, is at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 in the Banquet Hall and lasts until 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and includes admission to the University Theater's production of “The Drowsy Chaperone” which is at 8 p.m. in the Russ Mobley Theater.
To make reservations for the events that include a luncheon or dinner, contact the Office of Development at (270) 789-5211 or call the office for more information.